Despite numerous humanitarian challenges in 2017 in Africa, there were also a number of heart-warming accomplishments. A case in point, was when a local response of Red Crescent teams—and other partners—curbed Somalia's cholera outbreak through the power of local volunteers and shared international expertise. In terms of support to our members, 36 National Societies were able to kick start initiatives that built their capacity through seed grants.

As of 30 September 2018, 810,227 Congolese refugees are being hosted in African countries. From 1 January to 30 September 2018 alone, some 139,395 Congolese fled to neighboring countries, with a particularly significant increase in refugee flows to Burundi, Uganda and Zambia.

UNHCR together with 43 humanitarian and development partners launched the revised Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) on 17 July 2018 for $547 million to help respond to the needs of Congolese refugees in neighboring countries.

Ten out of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) have reported more than 35,727 cholera / AWD cases and 423 deaths (Case Fatality Rate, 1.2%), since the beginning of 2018. These countries include; Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe accounts for 28.2 % (10,086) of the total case load reported this year, followed by Somalia at 17.2% (6,132).

Animal health emergencies continue to erupt around the world at an ever-increasing pace. Increased global travel, human migration and informal trade of animals and animal products continue to intensify the risk of disease spread. Infectious diseases and other animal health threats have the potential to move rapidly within a country or around the world leading to severe socio-economic and public health consequences. For zoonoses that develop the ability for human to human transmission, an early response to an animal health emergency could prevent the next pandemic.

UNITED NATIONS, New York – Fifteen per cent of the world’s population lives with a disability, and nearly 200 million are between the ages of 10 and 24. Yet they are often invisible in government statistics.

GENEVA/ NEW YORK, 30 October 2018 - This month, partners of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) mark one year since the launch of Ending Cholera: A Global Roadmap to 2030, which targets a 90% reduction in cholera deaths by 2030 and the elimination of cholera in at least 20 countries out of the 47 currently affected.

Nearly 18.6 million cumulative male circumcisions for HIV prevention were performed between 2008 and 2017 in the 14 priority countries of East and Southern Africa (Fig. 1).

WHO and UNAIDS based their 2007 recommendation for male circumcision as an additional HIV prevention intervention on consistent and compelling evidence from African studies. But in 2007 the actual acceptability of circumcision and feasibility of scaling up were unknown.

10 out of the 21 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESAR) have reported more than 34,965 cholera / AWD cases and 420 deaths (Case Fatality Rate, 1.2%), since the beginning of 2018. These countries include; Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe accounts for 26.9 % (9,395) of the total case load reported this year, followed by Somalia at 17.5% (6,132).

"Access to education is a fundamental human right. It is essential to the acquisition of knowledge and to the full development of the human personality, as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states. More than that, education makes us more resilient and independent individuals."Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.